[Address panel: Col: Samuel Hodgdon / Philadelphia] [Docket notation, sideways: [undecipherable] Wilkins jr / [undecipherable] / Philadelphia] [Stamp: Received from State Dep't. Nov. 24, 1864. R.P.O. 401380. — No. 3194] Pittsburghe 12^th Dec^r 1799 Sir I have bin honoured with yours of the 7^th & 8^th Ultmo – You desire, that when Alterations have Taken place at any of the posts the documents to account for them will be expected to accompany the returns. It will be impossible at present to comply with this part of your directions; as, when [undecipherable: prob. issues] have bin made, or transfers from one part to another take place, the Vouchers for past [undecipherable: prob. issues] or transfers still are with the Qmasts making them, & as the posts are so remote it is impracticable to have it complied with immediately – My instructions to all Qmasters of posts are, that they open a book, & appropriate a page to each article of stores they may have, on the Debit side of which they charge the articles they receive, & on the credit side write such [undecipherable: prob. issues] as they make, Vouched by orders & receipts – These books & receipts remain, at the posts untill an opportunity offers for settlement with me, when the Vouchers are all delivered up; which will serve for my settlement for Stores purchased & removed – But if you will adopt any other shorter & more easy mode of adjustment, I will most Gladly embrace it, & attend your instructions most pointedly – I inclose you two general returns of Qmast Stores made at two distinct periods for the western posts – which I hope will afford you some satisfaction – Should you want returns for the other posts, I beg you will call on M^r Miller, who has the accounts for the same, & who will readily furnish you with such as you may require – I am, Sir, your ob^t S^t J. O. Wilkins jr Col^o Samuel Hodgdon